It’s a Matter of Choice
It’s a matter of choice. You will either master your attitudes or they will master you. Who you are today is the result of choices made yesterday. Tomorrow will be made up of today’s decisions. Choose to have a good attitude tomorrow. How is this done?
First, review your attitudes. Wrong feelings and wrong behavior come from wrong thinking. In order to correct them, they must be brought in line with right thinking—biblical thinking. Second, realize that faith is stronger than fear. Understand that God sees your problems: “Lord, look on their threats.” (Acts 4:29) Ask God for confidence—“grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word.” (v. 29) Believe God is working a miracle … “by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” (v. 30) Be filled with the Holy Spirit, “when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” (v. 31) Third, determine what attitudes need change; i.e. negative thinking, critical remarks toward others, resentment, etc. Fourth, have the desire to change. Actually, this must be your first choice. And this decision will keep you moving in the right direction: “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4) Fifth, live one day at a time. God made us to bear the burdens of one day—today. If we try to carry yesterday and tomorrow, we get overwhelmed. Sixth, change your thought patterns. Be transformed as a living sacrifice by the renewing of your mind. (See Romans 12:1-2) Seventh, develop good habits. It takes between 17 and 30 times of doing something for it to become a habit. Finally, continually choose to have a right attitude. The bottom line? It’s up to you!
Sin cera, Erik
Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.